Saturday's letters: Parking debate

Published: Saturday, August 3, 2013 at 4:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Friday, August 2, 2013 at 4:42 p.m.

To the editor: The Times-News article about parking downtown made it clear that Hendersonville doesn’t have a parking problem, it has a people problem. Reading the commentaries from so many about how they can’t find a spot right in front of the place they want to patronize — how absurd! I have never had a problem finding a place downtown. As a last resort, I simply park on Washington Street and walk the two blocks to Main.

As for parking garages/decks, they’re fine for big cities, but can we believe that the same people who won’t pay a meter are going to pay to park at one of those cold, dank facilities? What about all those former gas stations on Church Street? Couldn’t they be made into facilities on the park-like model of the Dogwood?

For some downtown business owners, a “lack of parking” is a way to rationalize the fact that they are attempting to purvey things that no one wants. If you’ve got the goods, customers will find you. (Business 101.)

I hope the public hearing on this issue doesn’t turn into a whining session full of the same kind of complaints quoted in the article. Let’s hear some common-sense solutions.

Theodore Etherington

Flat Rock

Call it socialism

To the editor: My head hurts from beating it against the wall reading recent letters on how the GOP is starving children, hurting education and reducing public servants by favoring their rich constituents. Let’s start with the basic problem. You can’t spend money you don’t have.

The U.S. debt nears $17 trillion ($53,000 per taxpayer) and the administration wants to spend more. The “rich” (top 20 percent) pay 86 percent of federal income taxes, the bottom 47 percent (the poor?) pay zero. Something must be done or our nation will soon look like Detroit.

Most on the left think the “rich” should pay even more. The “rich” don’t just sit on their money in a vault. They invest it in businesses, resulting in jobs (ever been hired by a poor person?) and more tax income. The largest contributors to charities are “rich.” Taking their money means less investment and fewer jobs.

The left paints itself as innocent of being influenced by the “rich,” but regularly grants political favors to unions and favored corporations/donors; see the more than 1,400 Obamacare exemptions. What gives government authority to decide who is “rich” and what is “fair?” The term is socialism.

Barry Coombs

Saluda

Lack of decency

To the editor: For nearly two decades, Bele Chere, the annual downtown outdoor festival in Asheville, has been a magnet and a destination for out-of-towners and locals.

However, Bele Chere has crossed the decency line with women baring their breasts.

Bele Chere is no longer a family-friendly event. The unattractive “show” has truly put Asheville “on the map.”

<p>To the editor: The Times-News article about parking downtown made it clear that Hendersonville doesn’t have a parking problem, it has a people problem. Reading the commentaries from so many about how they can’t find a spot right in front of the place they want to patronize  how absurd! I have never had a problem finding a place downtown. As a last resort, I simply park on Washington Street and walk the two blocks to Main.</p><p>As for parking garages/decks, they’re fine for big cities, but can we believe that the same people who won’t pay a meter are going to pay to park at one of those cold, dank facilities? What about all those former gas stations on Church Street? Couldn’t they be made into facilities on the park-like model of the Dogwood?</p><p>For some downtown business owners, a lack of parking is a way to rationalize the fact that they are attempting to purvey things that no one wants. If you’ve got the goods, customers will find you. (Business 101.)</p><p>I hope the public hearing on this issue doesn’t turn into a whining session full of the same kind of complaints quoted in the article. Let’s hear some common-sense solutions.</p><p><em>Theodore Etherington</em></p><p><em>Flat Rock</em></p><h3>Call it socialism</h3>
<p>To the editor: My head hurts from beating it against the wall reading recent letters on how the GOP is starving children, hurting education and reducing public servants by favoring their rich constituents. Let’s start with the basic problem. You can’t spend money you don’t have.</p><p>The U.S. debt nears $17 trillion ($53,000 per taxpayer) and the administration wants to spend more. The rich (top 20 percent) pay 86 percent of federal income taxes, the bottom 47 percent (the poor?) pay zero. Something must be done or our nation will soon look like Detroit.</p><p>Most on the left think the rich should pay even more. The rich don’t just sit on their money in a vault. They invest it in businesses, resulting in jobs (ever been hired by a poor person?) and more tax income. The largest contributors to charities are rich. Taking their money means less investment and fewer jobs.</p><p>The left paints itself as innocent of being influenced by the rich, but regularly grants political favors to unions and favored corporations/donors; see the more than 1,400 Obamacare exemptions. What gives government authority to decide who is rich and what is fair? The term is socialism.</p><p><em>Barry Coombs</em></p><p><em>Saluda</em></p><h3>Lack of decency</h3>
<p>To the editor: For nearly two decades, Bele Chere, the annual downtown outdoor festival in Asheville, has been a magnet and a destination for out-of-towners and locals.</p><p>However, Bele Chere has crossed the decency line with women baring their breasts.</p><p>Bele Chere is no longer a family-friendly event. The unattractive show has truly put Asheville on the map.</p><p>How sad.</p><p><em>Sandy Goble</em></p><p><em>Brevard</em></p>